Mark Masonry.

head . Many brethren ivere members of both lodges , ancl they had done all in their power to work harmoniously tog-ether . As the letters now road stated , representations had been made inducing a course which threatened to disturb the existing amity . The brethren in question were not disposed to resign the membership of either lodge , and he trusted from the calm

consideration of tho subject that the result of their deliberations would bo to fix the brethren firmly in their allegiance to this Grand Lodge . Bro . GEO . LAMBERT was very glad he had entered the hallm time to hear read the correspondence on the subject before them . It was all very well to talk of the illegality of this Grand

Lodge , the constitutional formation of which he was prepared to maintain . Why , he well remembered going to Scotland to make inquiries as to the JIark Degree ; and what did he find ?—• that the JIark Degree was worked under the Grand Chapter of Scotland , which was not recognised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , by whom they wore considered a spurious body . He

considered that this Grand Lodge held a superior position to the Grand Chapter of Scotland , and an equal position with any Grand Lodge exercising jurisdiction over the JIark Degree . i

Bro . . TA :. _ GIBBS was in this position—he was a Scotch Royal Arch and an English Royal Arch , and had at one time met with some difficulty in obtaining a proper recognition . Iu connection with the question under discussion , there ivere two difficulties not to be overlooked—1 st , the Graud Chapter of Scotland was now a divided body , a division having recently

taken place ; 2 nd , the fact of the Grand Lodge of Scotland recognising nothing but the three blue degrees . AVhat then is to be done ? G > to the Grand Chapter of Scotland ? Yes , but to which Graud Chapter will you refer ? The old Grand Chapter of Scotland , he believed , does not regard the JIark Degree as essential , but considers it as a by-degree . Tiie form to be gone

through as a JIason iu Scotland may not be known . First , there were the three blue degrees—then there ivas tho degree of Past Jlaster , then that of Excellent Jlaster—then a knight of something or other—and then the Royal Arch . In his case , after tho closing of the chapter a sort of conclave AVUS formed in which the JIark JIaster ' s and other degrees were conferred .

If the Grand Chapter of Scot-land had no more regular lodges in which to give the JIark Degree in Scotland than they possessed in India , then he agreed with the conclusions of Bro . Lambert .

The M . W . G . JIASTER recommended that this Grand Lodge should put itself in communication with the Grand Chapter of Scotland , stating the circumstances which led to the foundation of this Grand Lodge , and maintaining its position as the undoubted head of the Murk Degree in this country . Without yielding one jot of their dignity , they were quite willing to

interchange friendly relations and to establish reciprocity . If the Grand Chapter of Scotland would consent to meet them on amicable terms all ivould be well . If not , then there were two courses open—to decline all further communication with them , or to receive such of their members as may choose to come to us . The terms of the warrants issued by the Grand Chapter

of Scotland should be borne in mind , viz .: — " Further , in tho event of the degree of JIark Jlaster hereby authorised becoming at any time hereafter a degree lawfully sanctioned and acknowledged by a supreme body of the country in which the Mark Lodge hereby constituted shall be situated , this present warrant or charter of constitution shall eo ipso become void

and null , the holders thereof be deprived of their functions under it , and thereupon bound to return the same to our Grand Chapter . " Here we have a supreme body , and he thought the Grand Chapter of Scotland instead of refusing recognition to

us , ought , in accordance with their own terms , to withdraw their warrants now in force in this country . The JI . AV . EARL OP CARNARVON , P . G . M ., had heard nothing of this question until this afternoon . It was a most important question and one requiring most careful consideration . The letter from Edinburgh was certainly not one calculated to

promote friendly feeling , or such as ought to be sent from one friendly body to another . AVhen he considered the position of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , be could not help being reminded of tho proverb— "Those who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones . " He was very pleased to hear the Grand Jlaster recommend what lie agreed in as the true basis of

policy . First , do all that is conciliatory , all that is consistent with the true spirit of Masonry , but do not abate one jot or tittle of dignity . Should this conciliatory conduct fail in its effect , then would come the consideration of tivo courses openwhether simply to hold aloof from the Grand Chapter of Scotland , or to receive those willing to come amongst us . He

should clearly recommend the latter . AA ' e are the larger body , and by the known law of gravitation , the tendency is for the powerful to absorb the iveak . Those who value the Mark Degree will join us in preference to a body so situated as is the Grand Chapter of Scotland . Let peace and conciliation guide our counsels . Remember how we have had to struggle—how

by pursuing the even , steady tenor of our ivay , ive have defeated opposition , and attained to the condition of strength and prosperitv upon which he was delighted to congratulate them .

Bro . Rev . G . It . PORTAL , G . Reg ., ivould move a reference of this subject to the General Board , who should meet on a day when the G . Master could attend , for the purpose of considering it , and of taking such steps as they may deem advisable now that they had pretty ivell ascertained the feelings and opinions of Grand Lodge . The remarks of their Past Grand Jlaster were

very important-. In his opinion , not many Scotch lodges will - . Approve tho conduct of the Grand Chapter of Scotland . It was idle to question the validity of the Constitution of this Grand Lodge , or to speak of it as an emanation from any one particular lodgo . This Grand Lodge ivas formed by the union of representatives of various JIark Lodges , amongst them many lodges

in which the Mark Degree had been conferred from time immemorial , and as a matter of course , long before the establishment of the Bon Accord Lodge . Its origin was precisely analogous to that of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 , ivhen the members of four lodges met together in London and formed themselves into a Grand Lodge altogether distinct from the Grand

Lodge meeting at York . These two bodies exorcised separate jurisdictions until 1813 , when they combined , the two bodies being then known as the " United Grand Lodge of England ;" and so ivith us—there existed various bodies exercising conflicting jurisdiction over the JIark Degree , with no real head ; a union was formed , and the result was the establishment of this

Grand Lodge , under the presidency of one of the most constitutional JIasons in existence , the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , their first JI . AV . Grand Jlaster . Bro . C . J . BANISTER G . S . O ., seconded the motion , which was

carried unanimously . The G . REGISTRAR proceeded to read the Report of the Committee on connection beliueen Marie 21 'tsonrg and Christianity , appointed at the last meeting of Grand Lodge .- — The Committee having investigated to the best of their ability

the important subject referred to them have deemed it advisable to content themselves with embodying the following facts as their report : — 1 . That up to the time of the Union of 1813 , the two Grand Parallels in Masonry were St . John the Baptist and